Folding furniture



Oct. 20, 1931. H. R. NOYES 1,827,952

' FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Feb. 5. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 20,1931. H. R. NOYES FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Feb. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N V E NTO R Ha /eh r5) 0 0 65 BY 7 ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 20, 1931 v razresz a nnzLEHUnsr In. Movies, arms enemies, eamoemli FOLDING FURNITU E Application filed February 5.11929. Serial No. 337.702.

' This invention relates to articles of furni: ture, such as 1 have legs, and especially to tables, stands, benches, chairs, or the like.

It is one of the objects of my invention to make it possible to fold the legs of such a device in a compact andconvenient manner. I

Folding" card tables have been used, in I which the legs fold under the table top. 7 Experience shows that suchdevices are unsatisfactory because theyfare weak and liable to collapse; and furthermore, the unfolding of the legs takes a substantial amount of tim e. My invention obviatesall these dificulties, by providing a strong and rigid structure when. the legs are extended, and yet onethat can be very readily folded and unfolded without the'need of great dexterity or skill. Such a foldingdevice is therefore especially adapted for use in the ordinary household, as it-can readily be manipulated by women or children. The folding feature can of course be applied to many vari'eties of furniture such as" mentioned heretofore. In fact, the legs when 1 partlyunfolded can serve asrests forsupporting the top in a vertical, or anear vertical position, as fora fire place screen. Furthermore, the particular materials from which the device can be made are not restrict ed, as metal as well as wood is readily adaptable for my purpose. A

invention possesses manyother advantages, and has other objectswhich maybe made more easily apparentfrom aconsideration of one embodiment of my invention. For

drawings accompanying. and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principles of my invention, but itis to be understood that this detailed description is not'to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by theappendedclaims. Referring to the drawings: f Figure 1 is a bottom View of an article of furniture, folded, that incorporates my in- -vention;p-

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken alongplane tailed.

59 22, but shown with the legs in unfolded -.8 8of Fig. 2; and Figs. 9, .10 and 11 are hinged to thiscleat 24. cludes the two legs 25, 26 (Figs. 1, 2, and4) "and a connecting apron or. board-27. The

this purpose I have shown a form in the position, and with the legs partly broken away, to save space; t

- Fig. 3 is a detail section taken along plane 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail section, taken along plane 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail 22 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6'isa detail section,ltaken along plane 6 6 of Fig. 2; g 1 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device with the legs extended; j a I Fig. 8 is a detail section, taken along plane section, taken along plane I I diagrammatic views 1llustrating the manner in" which the device I can be folded and'unfolded. i

I show in the present instance, a folding tab1e:.made from wood; but the principal can be utilized for other articles of furniture,

' made from wood or other materials The the top and-on the buttom surface thereof.

These cleats serve to strengthen theltop 21, a i

and also as guides forthe'folding leg structure as hereinafter described."

Near the left hand edge of the top 21v is a 'crosscleat 24 that connects the cleats 22, 23 as by-dovetailing. A leg structur'e'is This structure inhinges 28.f0r this structure are-located on the inside surfaces of the cleat 24 and board. 27, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It is apparent that legs 25 and 26 can be folded to be adjacent the top 21 (as shown in Figs. 1,

Y 3, and 9) or else extended to be perpendicular to the top 21 (as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 11) .1.

. The'other legstructure forming the other two legs of the table, includes an apron or board-29 (Figsl, 2,3 and 5) to which are fastened the leg pieces 30,31. All of the legs are shown as square in section, although this form is not essential. The structure 29-30-31 is also foldable; it can be slid beneath the other leg'structure 2526.2"(' by the aid of the construction now tobe deposition such that the legs30, 31 are parallel with and under the top 21, as shown in Figs.

1 and 3; or else the structure 29- 3031 can be moved outwardly from beneath top 21, as indicated in Fig. 9, by the" arrow 34:. The slots 32 are'just long enough-to limit this outward movement in order tobring the structure2930'31 adjacent the right hand edge of top 21, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 1 11. Then the structure can be pivotedabout the axis of pins 33 to cause legs 30, 31 to assume a position perpendicular to'top21, as

indicated most clearly in Figs.2 and'll. 7

.In fact, the proper positioning of legs 30,

31 can be accomplished by the aid of gravity.

If the folded table is held in the vertical position of Fig. 9, the legs 30,.31 -will be al lowed tofall'to. the position there shown ,and

as limited by the engagement of pins 33 with. the end of grooves1i32. Thenthetop 21 can be turned to a horizontal'position, in a di-U rectionshown by arrow 35 10); An intermediate position .in the process of turning is indicated in :Fig; 10, the legs 25, .26,

30, hanging freely in a vertical direction under the influence of gravity about their respective pivots. The completed movement table top 21. I shall hereinafter describe how all four legs can be clamped eitherin 36 '(Figs l, 2,5, 7, and 8) thatisfastenedat "cachend to the bottom siirface of' cleats 22,

'231as shownqmost clearly in Figs..5 and 7. In the extended. position of'legs 30, 31, this bar contacts with the inner surface of these clockwise direction about the axis of pins 33. I shall now describe the meanswhereby i the legs'25, 26, 30, and 31 are held in extended position. Along the bottom surface of the *cleats 22, 23, there. are pivoted the folding apron members 37,38, as by the aid 'of the springhinges 39. In Figs. 1 and 3, the aprons aresho'wn asfoldedback toa position substantiallypai'allel with'the top 21, against the resilience of spring hinges 39. In-this position, these hinges urge the edge of'the apron toward folded legs 25, 2 6 to hold them in folded position. In 'order to "ensure against the legs being arred out from the folded position, a retaining piece 40 of leather or metal can also be fastened on each of the aprons 37 and 38 that engages'thc exposed outer surface of legs 25, 26. This piece 40 is urged downwardly against the leg; but

by rotating the aprons 37, 38 toward the top 21, the piece 40 is freed from the leg, and .tlietable can be unfolded.

VVhen the legs 25, 26, 30, 31 assume the unfolded position, the aprons 37, 38 are'i'elcased soastoeii-ga'ge the iJOP'POIlZlODS' of the legs. Each apron has grooves, such as 41 as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 6, that are arranged to accommodate the legs when these legs are in extended position. In this way, the; legs are. held firmly against collapsing when the table is in use, by the action of the shoulder ingrooves l-i iholding the legs-in spaced relation.

As shown most clearlyin 3 and a, the aprons 37, 38 have araboetted portion 42. forming a shoulder that contacts with the inner surface of the cleats 22, 23jijl1611111 eX- tended position. The aprons also are'gi'ooved asshown at 43. (Figs. 1 andi2) to permit the passage of rod 36. A res lient bumper or buffer pad a4: is prov dedonthe inner surfaceofcross :P19C6f27 connecting legs 25-a1id 26,'Wl1l0l1 contacts with the cross piece 29 when. the table is folded. i Assuming that the table is in the folded position of'Fig. 1, it'can be easily unfolded as follows? Holding the table ina vertical position as indicated in Fig. 9, the hands can cbe used'to press aprons 37', 38 toward the. of the top isshown' in Fig. 11,1tlie legs in that case assuming the vertical relation to the top'121. This releasesthe leg structures, per- 'mi'tting legs .30, 31to slide to the position OfZF1g.F9.: Then the top 21. can be turned V g 7 to;.the horizontal position of. Fig-. 11, the table this vertical position, or in the folded posi--= tion of Fig. 1.

In order to limit the swing of legstructure 29-30 31 to the'vertical position of Figs. .2, 'Z and 11 I preferably'providea cross bar set on the-floor, and finally:tlie aprons 37,

.38 can be released to spring into-the position ofFigsll, 5,0r 7. s 7

'Folding the tableis accomplished as follows: While the table is resting on the floor,

the aprons 37,38 are'grasped by theihands and heldin the position of Fig. 3. The top 21- is then tilted to a vertical position.

The table will then" assume the position of'Fig. 9. Resting'the ends of legs'Z-BO, 31 on the floor, the top 21 can then be pushed downaprons 37, 38 with the side surfaces'of the legs. Thus the tabletop21 can be supported "by the legs in a position departing from the horizontal. In fact, a vertical position can beobtained bycausi'ng only one ofthe leg structures to assume a slanting position. In

such vertical position of the top, it can be used as a fire screen. I claim: I

'1. In an article of the character described, a top member, a leg structure hinged to the top member and arranged to be folded so as to extend beneath the-top member, another leg structure having a pin and groove connection with the top member, whereby it can be slid in folded position between the top memberand the first leg structure, and resilient means for holding the leg structures in either open or closed position.

2. In an article of the character described,- a top member, a pair of leg structures. each having-a pair of legs, one of said structures being hingedly supported on the'top member,

' and the other having a sliding and pivotal connection with the top member, and arranged to be disposed in folded position between the other structure and the top memher, and means for holding the leg structures in extended position, comprising apron boards foldable to hold the leg structures in spaced relation.

3. The combination as set forth in claim if 2, with the addition of spring hinges resiliently urging the apron boards to active position.

4. In an article of the character described, a topv member, a leg structure hinged to the top member and arranged to be folded so as to extend beneath the top member, another leg structure having a pin and groove connection with the top member, whereby it can beslid' in folded position between the top member and the first leg structure, and resilientmeans for holdingthe leg structures in either open or closed position, comprising folding apron boards and spring hinges for said boards.

on each side of the top member,

a top member, a leg structure hingedly supported on the top member and having-legs arranged to swing downwardly perpendicularly to the top member, another leg structure having a sliding and pivotal connection with the top member, and having legs arranged to swing downwardly perpendicularly to the top member, and means for holding the leg structure in extended position.

8. In an article of. the character described, a top member, a leg structure hingedly supported on the top member and having legs arranged to swing downwardly p'erp'endicularly to the top member, another leg structure 7 having a sliding and pivotal connection with the top member,and having legs arranged to swing downwardly perpendicularly to the top member, and hinged apron members, one for holding the leg structures in extended position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ni hand. V

y HAZLEHURST R. NOYES.

5. In an article of the character described, a

top member, a pair of cleats fastened thereto adjacent opposite edges, each of said cleats being provided with a groove, the grooves facing each other, a leg structure hinged adjacent one end of the cleats, another leg structure having pins engaging in the grooves and arranged to he slid along the grooves, and folding apron boards for holding the leg structures either in open or closed positions.

6. In an article of the-character described, a top member, a pair of cleats fastened thereto adjacent opposite edges, each o-fsaid cleats being provided with a groove, the grooves facing each other, a leg structure hinged adjacent one end of the cleats, another leg structure having pins engaging in the grooves and arranged to he slid along the grooves, folding apron boards for holding the leg structures either inopen or closed positions, and a stop member arranged transversely of the cleats for limiting pivotal motion of the. said other leg structure. v

7. In an article of the character described,

hit) I 

